I live in a country…
- ruled by an unelected leader, supported by religious extremists.
- where human rights are being pushed back daily.
- that is a threat to peace around the world.
- that secretly manufactures weapons of mass destruction in violation of treaties.
- that has armed and trained terrorists around the world.
- where dissent is tolerated less and less daily, and enemies of the state are dissapeared by the military.
- that has violated international law in its treatment of prisoners of war.
- that has ignored the will of the United Nations.
- that has unilaterally withdrawn from arms control treaties.
- that inspires fear in its neighbors and attacks countries on the other side of the planet.
- run by war criminals, who have killed hundreds of civilians.
I live in a rogue nation. I am an American.
Sure, this is meant to get your blood up. Sure, it's out to provoke a response. But this is the way that many outside the US see America; it's what makes people lie down in traffic in New York and do “die ins” (a tactic that was very popular back in the 80's with anti-nuclear protesters–it's theatrical, and does nothing but annoy, making it a preferred technique of whining liberals everywhere). This is how the Russians, the French, the Germans, and much of Europe now sees us, and how Central America, South America, Southeast Asia, and much of the world have seen us since the end of WW II. Get used to it. Be informed by it. If you don't like it, do something about it.
Sean M. Gallagher 